Broadband, or high-speed, Internet connection is what many users currently use in their home. Along with high-speed Internet, many users may also use a router to allow multiple computers to connect to the Internet. This post will describe how a router is used to connect multiple computers. To make it easier to understand, I will use where you live as a comparison to how your computer is connected to the Internet.
What is an IP Address?
IP addresses are a series of numbers in the form: nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn, where nnn is a one to three digit number. An IP address is unique to an individual computer on a network, similar to how your home has a unique address. For an Internet connection, an IP address is supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some cases, your ISP may provide you with more than one IP address, which allows you to connect multiple computers. As you will see later, however, you can still connect multiple computers with a single IP address.
Connecting a Single Computer
Connecting a single computer to your high-speed Internet is very simple to do. Simply connect a network cable into your modem, and then into the network card in your computer. Your computer will then be assigned an IP address from your ISP. For example, if your ISP assigned you the IP address of 24.24.50.17, then your computer will have that IP address.
When you make a request to a server, such as for a Web page, the Web server knows which IP address made the request. The information is then sent through the Internet and back to your computer. This is similar to when someone sends you mail to your home. The address on the mail allows it to be delivered to your home and not somewhere else.
Connecting Multiple Computers
How can multiple computers connect if only one address is assigned? When you make a request for a Web page, how does it know which computer requested that page? Let's take our home analogy one step further. Let's say instead of living in a house, you live in an apartment. When someone sends you mail, they not only include your address but also an apartment number. This number is internal to your apartment building and every apartment has its own unique number. Similarly, multiple computers can connect to the Internet if they each had there own unique local IP address. This can be handled by a router.
A router is a piece of hardware that connects directly to the modem. Each computer is then connected to the router, instead of the modem. Now instead of your computer having the IP address supplied by your ISP, your router now is assigned that IP address. This is similar to your router acting as the apartment building.
The beauty of a router is that it can assign its own local IP addresses. When you connect a computer to the router it now receives one of the IP addresses assigned by your router, similar to how each apartment has it's own number. Now when you make a request for a Web page, the request is sent using the same ISP address, but this time it is assigned to the router. When the Web page is returned, the router receives the request, and sends it locally to the computer that requested the page.
The router also has its own local address that is similar to the local IP addresses of the computers. So now the router has two addresses assigned to it: an external one provided by your ISP, and a local one provided by it. This allows the router to connect to both the Internet and the local network.
Note: The 192.168.xxx.xxx address are special IP addresses reserved for Local Area Networks (LANs).
Managing a FTP or Web Server on Your Network
Let's take a look at this scenario. You have a router connecting multiple computers to the Internet. But now you want to create a FTP or Web server. No problem. You setup the necessary software on a computer on your network, told someone outside your network the local IP address of your FTP server and they try to connect. They then discover that they can't connect. Why? Its similar to someone mailing something to you by just specifying your apartment number and no address.
The IP address assigned to your computer is local to your network. You can connect to that computer from within your network, but not from the Internet. You will need to use your ISP-assigned IP address (the one assigned to your router) to have someone from the Internet connect to your FTP server. The problem is that your router is assigned that IP and not your computer, and since an IP address must be unique, how can two computers have the same IP? The answer: they can't, but they don't need to.
Routers have the ability to forward information on a port to a specific computer. A port is a numbered channel that data can be sent through on a network. You cannot physically see it as it is a virtual channel used extensively in networking for sending/receiving data. For FTP servers the default port is 21; however another port can be used.
Open your router setup and look for the port forwarding option. Specify the internal IP address of your FTP server and the port number and then save that information. Now when a user tries to access your FTP site, they must use the ISP IP address that is assigned to your router. The router will then notice that the data is being sent on port 21 and then forward it automatically to your FTP server. A Web server can be setup the same way, but its default port is usually 80.
Note: By default a router will dynamically assign IP addresses to the computers connected to it. This means that the first computer to connect to the router will get the first available IP address, and the next will get the second, and so on. If you manage an FTP server, it may be easier to assign a static IP address to the computers to ensure that the FTP server always has the same IP address.
This article described how to connect one or more computers to one Internet connection. It is important to remember the following:
1. If you have one computer connected directly to the modem, then that computer will be assigned the IP address from your ISP.
2. When using a router, the the router will be assigned the IP address from your ISP. Any computers connected to the router will be assigned a local address by the router.
3. A router will have the ISP IP address and a local IP address. This allows it to connect to both the Internet and your network.
4. When setting up a computer as a FTP, Web, or other server to communicate over the Internet, it is important to use the router's IP address to access your server. You will then need to forward the necessary port to your server.Blogger: Information On Internet Provider Articles and News - Create Post
For more information, please read the Technically Easy blog.
Paul Salmon has been involved with computers for 20 years and currently works as a technical systems analyst. He has been involved in many aspects of computers including hardware, software development and quality assurance. He currently maintains Technically Easy, a blog that provides information about various technologies in use today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Salmon
Monday, October 29, 2007
Low Cost Web Hosting Providers
A web host is the server or computer where the websites store files, graphics and essential data. The web host provider acts as the site for a collection of web sites all over the world. All the web-hosting client does is upload the websites to the common web server. This web server is maintained by the Internet service provider, which ensures fast and constant access to the Internet. This World Wide Web, which is a collection of sites, can be accessed by anyone through the network.
There are many companies that provide web-hosting services. Many providers offer an extensive range of the virtual hosting plans to meet personal or professional needs of the client. Low cost web hosting service does not mean cheap hardware.
A professional web-hosting provider needs to be of a high quality with custom-built servers. This will ensure that the website is hosted on unswerving hardware which provides fast and optimal performance. The host should ensure that the servers are connected to multiple bandwidth providers. So even if one of the connections is down, the others will provide the necessary connection to the host?s website. This will ensure that the down time to the hosts website is minimal.
A web host has to ensure honest and truthful hosting service to all its customers. Good web hosts ensure that they do not oversell their bandwidth and clutter up the same server with a large number of accounts.
Low cost web hosting is a service provided by the web host for a specific fee and to the agency to host their website on the host?s server. It is advisable to ensure that the quality and performance of the host server should not be affected by the low price quoted and that there is no compromise on hardware quality.
Low Cost Web Hosting provides detailed information on Low Cost Web Hosting, Low Cost Web Hosting Services, Reliable Low Cost Web Hosting, Canadian Low Cost Web Hosting and more. Low Cost Web Hosting is affiliated with Discount Linux Web Hosting.
There are many companies that provide web-hosting services. Many providers offer an extensive range of the virtual hosting plans to meet personal or professional needs of the client. Low cost web hosting service does not mean cheap hardware.
A professional web-hosting provider needs to be of a high quality with custom-built servers. This will ensure that the website is hosted on unswerving hardware which provides fast and optimal performance. The host should ensure that the servers are connected to multiple bandwidth providers. So even if one of the connections is down, the others will provide the necessary connection to the host?s website. This will ensure that the down time to the hosts website is minimal.
A web host has to ensure honest and truthful hosting service to all its customers. Good web hosts ensure that they do not oversell their bandwidth and clutter up the same server with a large number of accounts.
Low cost web hosting is a service provided by the web host for a specific fee and to the agency to host their website on the host?s server. It is advisable to ensure that the quality and performance of the host server should not be affected by the low price quoted and that there is no compromise on hardware quality.
Low Cost Web Hosting provides detailed information on Low Cost Web Hosting, Low Cost Web Hosting Services, Reliable Low Cost Web Hosting, Canadian Low Cost Web Hosting and more. Low Cost Web Hosting is affiliated with Discount Linux Web Hosting.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole
Internet Access Types
In this article you will learn that what are the major internet access types and how these internet access method works. Following is a brief overview of the major internet communication methods.
DSL
Digital Subscribers Lines is an advanced technology for bringing high speed internet connection to the home and corporate users. DSL doesn’t require the new wiring because it can be used on the regular telephone lines. With DSL you can use your internet connect and use telephone for making phone calls at the same time.
ADSL
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscribers Lines) is a high speed internet connection that is used to send and receive data at very high speed over the conventional telephone lines. ADSL supports data rate of 1.5 MBPS to 9 MBPS when receiving data (downstream) and 16 to 440 KBPS when sending data over internet (upstream)
Cable Net
Cable modems are copper wire are used to high speed access to the internet. Coaxial cable is used by the TV provides much greater bandwidth than the regular telephone lines. Cable modem provides the broadband internet access. Cable modem is a network bridge that conforms to IEEE 802.1D for Ethernet networking with some modifications. Some cable modem devices use Router to provide local area network with its own IP addressing. Some of the major manufacturers of the cable modem are Cisco, D-Link, Linksys, Motorola, Ericsson, Nortel Networks and 3Com.
Dial Up
Dial up communication is a type of internet access that works on the regular telephone lines. The computer is granted internet access by connecting the telephone line with the modem in the computer and configuring the computer with user name password and dial up numbers provided by the local ISP. Dial up service is least expensive but also provide the lowest internet speed. The dial up connection can be used with two types of modems internet modem and external modem.
GPRS
GPRS General Packet Radio Service is a series of functionalities that allow mobile data streaming and transfer to users of Global System. GPRS also called as 2.5 G. GPRS allows multiple users to share communication channel. GPRS facilitates the functionalities of web browsing, SMS, multimedia messages and real time email reception etc.
WiMAX
WiMAX stands for worldwide interoperability for Microwave access. WiMAX provides very high speed broadband internet connection to the home users, corporate users and the roaming users over wireless connection. WiMAX allows the data, voice and video communication at the same time. WiMAX connection can also be bridged and routed with the wired or wireless LAN. WiMAX provides data rate up to 70 mbps.
Satellite Internet access
Satellite Internet services are used in the locations where terrestrial internet access is not available. Satellite broadband is linked to the dish network subscriber service and provides data communication speed at the same rate of other broadband technologies. Two way satellite internet consists of two foot by three foot dish, two modems for uplink and downlink and coaxial cable between dish and modem.
B. Bashir manages this website Networking Tutorials and regularly writes articles on various topics such as Computer Networking, Network How Tos Wireless Networking, Computer Hardware, Certifications, How Tos, Switched Network and Computer tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bushra_Bashir
DSL
Digital Subscribers Lines is an advanced technology for bringing high speed internet connection to the home and corporate users. DSL doesn’t require the new wiring because it can be used on the regular telephone lines. With DSL you can use your internet connect and use telephone for making phone calls at the same time.
ADSL
ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscribers Lines) is a high speed internet connection that is used to send and receive data at very high speed over the conventional telephone lines. ADSL supports data rate of 1.5 MBPS to 9 MBPS when receiving data (downstream) and 16 to 440 KBPS when sending data over internet (upstream)
Cable Net
Cable modems are copper wire are used to high speed access to the internet. Coaxial cable is used by the TV provides much greater bandwidth than the regular telephone lines. Cable modem provides the broadband internet access. Cable modem is a network bridge that conforms to IEEE 802.1D for Ethernet networking with some modifications. Some cable modem devices use Router to provide local area network with its own IP addressing. Some of the major manufacturers of the cable modem are Cisco, D-Link, Linksys, Motorola, Ericsson, Nortel Networks and 3Com.
Dial Up
Dial up communication is a type of internet access that works on the regular telephone lines. The computer is granted internet access by connecting the telephone line with the modem in the computer and configuring the computer with user name password and dial up numbers provided by the local ISP. Dial up service is least expensive but also provide the lowest internet speed. The dial up connection can be used with two types of modems internet modem and external modem.
GPRS
GPRS General Packet Radio Service is a series of functionalities that allow mobile data streaming and transfer to users of Global System. GPRS also called as 2.5 G. GPRS allows multiple users to share communication channel. GPRS facilitates the functionalities of web browsing, SMS, multimedia messages and real time email reception etc.
WiMAX
WiMAX stands for worldwide interoperability for Microwave access. WiMAX provides very high speed broadband internet connection to the home users, corporate users and the roaming users over wireless connection. WiMAX allows the data, voice and video communication at the same time. WiMAX connection can also be bridged and routed with the wired or wireless LAN. WiMAX provides data rate up to 70 mbps.
Satellite Internet access
Satellite Internet services are used in the locations where terrestrial internet access is not available. Satellite broadband is linked to the dish network subscriber service and provides data communication speed at the same rate of other broadband technologies. Two way satellite internet consists of two foot by three foot dish, two modems for uplink and downlink and coaxial cable between dish and modem.
B. Bashir manages this website Networking Tutorials and regularly writes articles on various topics such as Computer Networking, Network How Tos Wireless Networking, Computer Hardware, Certifications, How Tos, Switched Network and Computer tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bushra_Bashir
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